A/N - People seemed to like this idea, so I went ahead and started writing! This first chapter is a rewrite of the Clans' departure, when they leave the four elders behind. I wanted to emphasize the family ties that these cats still had to their Clans. It's on the short side; later chapters are longer.
Pairing notes for this fic: Frostfur/Speckletail, Frostfur/OC, Ravenpaw/Barley

On weary paws, the white queen pulled herself away from the dead medicine cat and into the main clearing of the RiverClan camp. It was hardly home for her, especially filled with the stench of death as it was now. But it was more sheltered than anywhere else she could think of, and there was no sign of the Twolegs or their monsters here yet.

A bright ginger tom met her as she stepped out into the larger clearing. "We'll miss you dearly, Frostfur." He mewed solemnly. There was regret and uncertainty in his emerald eyes. "You and Speckletail both. You have served your Clan well over many seasons."

Frostfur could hardly meet his eyes, but she touched her nose gently to his fiery pelt in a last farewell. "I know the great Firestar will take care of them for many seasons more." She purred as she stepped back and took a deep breath. "If you can spare a few moments… Could I say goodbye to my kin before you go?"

"Of course, take all the time you need." Firestar nodded respectfully and padded away to speak with his mate, Sandstorm. Frostfur followed him more slowly, searching out a couple cats in particular. Soon enough several cats bounded over to her and pressed themselves all around her before she could even speak a word.

"Are you sure you can't come with us, mother?" Her oldest son, Brackenfur murmured into her ear.

"Yes, you're still strong enough to travel! You can't stay here…" Brightheart begged, her one good eye dull with grief.

Frostfur licked the scarred side of Brightheart's face gently. "Don't look like that dear, I'm not dead yet!" she chuckled. "Your old queen's still got a few seasons left in these old bones. Even so, they're too brittle now to make such a long journey."

Cinderpelt, Brackenfur's littermate and the ThunderClan medicine cat, shook her head sadly. "I kept telling you, you could have kept up being a warrior for a few more seasons… You're not nearly as old as Speckletail yet."

The white queen glanced sideways at where Speckletail was saying goodbye to her last living kin, Goldenflower. Worry twisted in her belly. "That's exactly why I have to stay," she mewed softly, willing Cinderpelt to understand. "Speckletail wouldn't last the winter alone. I have to stay and look after her."

The medicine cat closed her eyes, but nodded in acceptance.

"We'll always miss you, mother…" Thornclaw, Brightheart's littermate, nuzzled deep into her snowy fur for comfort. It was as if he was soaking in the last scents of his kithood, for the last time. "ThunderClan won't be the same without you."

"Oh stop that!" Frostfur snapped, trying to hide how her voice wavered. "You're all young, and you've got each other!" Her gaze landed on Brightheart again. "You've got your own kit to look out for, so don't spend too much time worrying about me!"

Brightheart nodded sadly, glancing over at where her mate, Cloudtail, waited with Whitepaw. Though Frostfur had never been fond of Cloudtail, she could easily see the depths of love he had for Brightheart and Whitepaw. Frostfur had been proud to see her granddaughter grow into the fine young apprentice she was now.

"Remember goldenrod and nettle leaves to help with your aches and swelling, and poppy seeds for the pain," Cinderpelt began listing off herbs, kneading the ground anxiously with her paws. "And burdock root for any cuts and infection. Oh, and if that cough comes back chew some tansy. If it gets worse you'll have to go into Twolegplace and find catmint…"

Frostfur flicked her tail over Cinderpelt's muzzle to silence her. "I'll be fine, dear. I'll look after myself and Speckletail, while you look after my Clan like you always have."

Cinderpelt pressed her muzzle against her mother's one last time, and her other kits crowded in around as well. For one perfect moment, their scents all mingled into one again, just as they had been seasons ago in the nursery.

The spell was broken when another cat called her name. Looking around, she spotted the dusky brown fur of Dustpelt. Breaking away from her children she padded over and looked at him quizzically.

"I just wanted to say goodbye," he said awkwardly. "I know we were from different litters, but… I always looked up to you and Brindleface."

Frostfur's heart twisted in grief and she closed her eyes, picturing her sister's beautiful dappled fur once again. "Brindleface is still watching over both of us," she said shakily. "She and StarClan will be with you on your journey.

Dustpelt nodded curtly, though his eyes were uncharacteristically soft. He gave her ears one swift lick, then bounded back over to where Ferncloud sat with their kit, Birchkit.

"Is everyone ready?" Leopardstar's call rang out loud and clear from the center of the clearing. Her Clan was mingling still around Shadepelt and Loudbelly, the two elders who would also be staying behind.

"We haven't hunted today!" One of their queens complained, bundling her kit in closer.

Leopardstar shook her head briskly. "We can hunt on the way." At her command, the RiverClan cats started to gather with ThunderClan. Speckletail waved a last goodbye to Goldenflower and came to sit next to Frostfur, watching their Clan prepare to leave the forest forever.

She looked around as Leafpaw, Cinderpelt's apprentice, brushed passed them and stopped to gaze at them one last time. "Goodbye, Speckletail. Goodbye Frostfur," She said softly, looking even sadder than Frostfur's own kits. "Good hunting."

"Good hunting," Frostfur replied with a small dip of her head.

The cats filed out of the clearing slowly, a few casting last glances back around the home they would never see again. Brackenfur and Cinderpelt hesitated again as they brought up the rear, staring back at their mother. Then Cinderpelt nudged her brother and limped out after the Clan, with Brackenfur just behind her. As his golden tail disappeared through the reeds, the remaining elders were left in deafening silence.

Without a word, Shadepelt and Loudbelly turned and padded back into the medicine cat's clearing to sit vigil for Mudfur. They left Frostfur and Speckletail sitting and staring at the place where their Clan had left them forever.

Finally Speckletail heaved a sigh and pulled herself onto her paws. "Come on then, we can't mope around forever," she grunted, stretching her stiff limbs. "We should hunt before the sun goes down, so we can sit vigil with the RiverClan cats tonight."

Frostfur blinked at her slowly, steeling herself against the frigid cold that threatened to consume her if she stayed still any longer.

"Right," she said firmly. "Let's get to work."